Explained Lyrics

Although some cringe at the idea of being held captive, being held figuratively captive by someone to whom you are attracted is another matter.

“They’ll be coming to find me soon” means that the man is concerned about his safety. This is figurative for anxiety about a relationship.

It is now clear that there is a girl “holding the man hostage” in the relationship. The man is too enticed by her to break away from what could be an unhealthy romance. He can’t use his head to realize that he is in a bad situation.

These lines charge the girl with a violation of manipulating the man from whose perspective One Direction sings this song with wielding her allure over the man for her own gain.

The man is jealous of another guy who is enticed by his beloved.

“Used to sing about being free but now he’s changed his mind” indicates that the girl has manipulated him into loving her. She is using that same conniving quality on him.

“Stockholm syndrome” is the odd phenomenon that occurs when you begin to admire someone who has trapped or imprisoned you.

The presence of a light shows that he had no one else to live for.

Now that he has the opportunity of being with this girl, regardless of how manipulative she is, he is going to take it.